Begho (Dwinfuor) – Akan Gold Entrepôt
Begho-Dwinfuor · Bighu · Bew · Nsoko Begho
Akan gold trade (c. 1000–1750 CE; peak 14th–17th c)·Akan (Bron) / Hausa Wangara merchants·🇬🇭 Bono Region, 12 km west of Hani town, Black Volta watershed, Ghana
About
About Begho (Dwinfuor) – Akan Gold Entrepôt
Sprawling 45 ha Akan trading city with four ethnic quarters (Brong, Kramo Wangara Muslim, artisans, market), producing brass crucibles and glass beads for gold–kola caravans to Jenne; Crossland excavations 1971.
Why it mattersKey Akan gold trade (c. 1000–1750 CE; peak 14th–17th c) site illustrating Akan (Bron) / Hausa Wangara merchants urbanism and akan–wangara gold and kola entrepôt linking niger to akan forest; ivory to jenne.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Wangara early mosque — 1300s?
Theories
- 01Four-quarter ethnicity urbanism
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Craft town founded c. 1000; walled entrepôt 14th c
- Period
- Akan gold trade (c. 1000–1750 CE; peak 14th–17th c)
- Culture
- Akan (Bron) / Hausa Wangara merchants
- Builders
- Akan (Bron)
- Purpose
- Akan–Wangara gold and kola entrepôt linking Niger to Akan forest; ivory to Jenne
- Excavation
- Excavated
Craft town founded c. 1000; walled entrepôt 14th c
Initial construction / foundation
20th century
Modern archaeological survey and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
7.7800° N · 2.4200° W · 340 m · 3 mapped features
- Begho (Dwinfuor) — Principal GategateMain gate and rampart section at Begho (Dwinfuor) – Akan Gold Entrepôt7.7806° N · 2.4194° W
- Begho (Dwinfuor) — Central Forum/BasilicaforumForum–basilica complex at Begho (Dwinfuor) – Akan Gold Entrepôt7.7800° N · 2.4200° W
- Begho (Dwinfuor) — Baths/CisternsbathsBaths and cistern cluster at Begho (Dwinfuor) – Akan Gold Entrepôt7.7794° N · 2.4206° W